xiii
Preface to the Second Edition
In 1992 the first edition of this book was published as a result of my teaching a course
in chemical oceanography at the University of Miami over the last 25 years. This edition is an updated version of this book which I hope is improved due to the comments
of undergraduate and graduate students that have struggled through my first attempt.
I have deleted the chapter on organic chemistry largely due to my ignorance of this field
and the problems my students had getting through this area. I discuss the organic compounds that are related to primary production in a separate chapter. This chapter also
includes a discussion on the iron hypothesis that has been examined in recent years. The
other chapters have been updated as new areas have been discussed in the literature. As
with the first edition of the book, it is meant to be used as an upper level undergraduate
course or a first year graduate course in chemical oceanography. At the graduate level it
can be supplemented with the volumes of Chemical Oceanography and current literature
references. It remains biased with my views of the field. It is largely descriptive and is
biased by my strong mechanistic feelings as a physical chemist. Since it is meant to be
an undergraduate text, I have not given all the original references. I have mentioned by
name many of those colleagues of mine that have contributed to the field— I apologize
for any omissions.
As with most endeavors, I owe thanks to a number of people: my many students,
both graduate and undergraduate, who have struggled through my courses; Mrs. Sara
Sotolongo, Elizabeth Degler, Meridith Galanter, and Danny Madina who have drawn
many of the figures; and Gay Ingram for proofing the book. The support of the National
Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research of my research work should also be
acknowledged. These agencies provided me with research funds to probe the thermodynamics and kinetics of processes occurring in the oceans.
I am sure the book still has some flaws, but I hope it will prove useful to those wishing
to get an introduction to the field of chemical oceanography.
Preface to the Second Edition
In 1992 the first edition of this book was published as a result of my teaching a course
in chemical oceanography at the University of Miami over the last 25 years. This edition is an updated version of this book which I hope is improved due to the comments
of undergraduate and graduate students that have struggled through my first attempt.
I have deleted the chapter on organic chemistry largely due to my ignorance of this field
and the problems my students had getting through this area. I discuss the organic compounds that are related to primary production in a separate chapter. This chapter also
includes a discussion on the iron hypothesis that has been examined in recent years. The
other chapters have been updated as new areas have been discussed in the literature. As
with the first edition of the book, it is meant to be used as an upper level undergraduate
course or a first year graduate course in chemical oceanography. At the graduate level it
can be supplemented with the volumes of Chemical Oceanography and current literature
references. It remains biased with my views of the field. It is largely descriptive and is
biased by my strong mechanistic feelings as a physical chemist. Since it is meant to be
an undergraduate text, I have not given all the original references. I have mentioned by
name many of those colleagues of mine that have contributed to the field— I apologize
for any omissions.
As with most endeavors, I owe thanks to a number of people: my many students,
both graduate and undergraduate, who have struggled through my courses; Mrs. Sara
Sotolongo, Elizabeth Degler, Meridith Galanter, and Danny Madina who have drawn
many of the figures; and Gay Ingram for proofing the book. The support of the National
Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research of my research work should also be
acknowledged. These agencies provided me with research funds to probe the thermodynamics and kinetics of processes occurring in the oceans.
I am sure the book still has some flaws, but I hope it will prove useful to those wishing
to get an introduction to the field of chemical oceanography.